Note: Since this is an anthology, I’ve commented on and rated each story individually, and then I rated the book overall.

Cherry Clubbing by Kenneth Yu: A couple of like-minded (twisted) men have a chance meeting in a foreign country where their “appetites” can be satisfied. They have a drink while the MC shares a tale of one of their own being careless, and then offers his “friend” some “safe” activity to enhance his business trip.

This story shows a dark side of humanity in a “real” way, showing the horror of sadistic desires in a gritty and upfront way. I found the POV…interesting since it’s not one I see used often. The entire story is in the MC’s dialogue. I find this a little complicated and droning, which is why I only give this story 1Q.

To Be Filled In By The Subject by J. Grant: 0119: I started reading the story.

0121: I laughed about the application of the apple cobbler and ice cream.

0124: I decided to never sign up to be a test subject.

0126: I hoped the family enjoyed the rest of the cobbler with the sledge hammer was applied.

I found this story somewhat complex, but interesting, creative, and slightly humorous (yes, I’m twisted like that). The creativity and amusement causes me to rate this story 2Q.

Demons Lie by Atris Ray III: It’s time to deal with the evil that lives among us, but what is the true evil? I wonder…

This story was short and in a POV most might not be too familiar with, but it’s still good and entertaining. The writer leaves the reader with something to think about – a deeper meaning. So, I rate it 2Q.

Caterpillar by Craig Saunders: A man stuck in a dead-end job, surrounded by people he hates, imagines ways of making his better, more fun, and interesting – better. But he holds back and plays the game of life, but for how long?

I really liked this story; it has deep levels of humanity and realism. The author – through the MC – shows the reader the truth hiding behind a smirk. I rate it 3Q.

Cold Air by Edward R. Rosick: A man and a woman go through medical school together and develop a relationship despite their difference in ages. But when the woman becomes obsessed with the dead and something she believes she has discovered tension builds between them. Insanity about her belief tears them apart. But…was she right?

This story was interesting and shows how the human mind can crack when it believes something benefits them, no matter how perverse the means are. I rate this story 3Q.

Artistic Subject by Adrian Ludens: A young woman who was suffering for funds while saving up to go to college, responds to an ad for a modeling job. She goes to the home of the artist, hoping it wasn’t one of those “pose nude” jobs. The artist isn’t what she expects, and neither is his art.

A classic story of not to trust anyone because they may be crazy. I particularly liked the reference to classic literature. I give this story 3Q.

Plague Hulk by Glynn Barrass: A group of young men decide they can make a buck from looting a plague infested ship from the past that has washed into port. What they find aboard isn’t what they sought, but is more than what they expected.

This story was brief in that you want it to last longer and you want more to happen before it’s over. It is forward motion all the way though, and you never know for sure where you’re being led ‘til you get there. That’s why I rated this story 2Q.

The Devil and Jim Rosenthal by C.M. Saunders: A man watches his wife give birth to their baby, but it’s not what he expects. He sees something in the child no one else can see, and it destroys his life.

The story was brief and felt more like a tongue-in-cheek joke than anything else. This could be redone into a much bigger story. I rate it 2Q.

Cena by Chad McKee: A man makes a mistake by interrupting a dog fight and is forced to wager on something he believes is wrong.

This story was gritty and textured although brief and to the point. I give it 2Q.

Frogger by J.W. Schnarr: A man wants to punish another, so he draws on the memory of a favorite video game from his past to give them a chance at survival.

At first I wasn’t sure of this story, but found purpose and slight humor to it in the end. I rate it 2Q.

White Out by K.J. Moore: After an accident, the dog sleds and medicine is lost. Now the only thing left to do is survive.

I found this story very confusing, but the story of desperation still comes across. I rate it 1Q.

Spiric Satisfied by John McNee: A stripper is hired for a private dance at the home of an old man who is too sick to leave. After she arrives things go from strong to terrible, and the dance is nothing like she was assured it would be.

I found this story fascinating because I didn’t know where it would go. Every time I thought I knew, I was thrown for another loop. A very well crafted tale, albeit twisted. I have to give this story 3Q.

Everyone Has Their Own Sound by Piper Morgan: A woman provides a special service to heartbroken people, stemming from her own dark, young experience.

I was intrigued by this story and would have loved for it to have been longer and more in depth. I rate it 2Q.

Les Sperme Vampire by Michael Bracken: A vampire “tricks” a man into getting what she wants, and she partakes…greedily.

This was more of an explicit scene than a short story, but was still well written and interesting. I rate it 2Q.

The Bogeyman’s Key by Calie Voorhis: What would you do with a key that let you enter people’s dreams? No one would know…would they?

This is a shocking, yet imaginative story that shows just how much abuse can come from a power one should never have. One of the few drawbacks was the reference to the man’s father – it didn’t quite make sense how the girl found out. Regardless, I give this story 3Q.

Stoners and Saviors by Quinn Hernandez: A stoner tells his friend an unbelievable story about Jesus coming to visit him. At the end the friend becomes a believer, but not because he wants to.

This story is definitely bizarre, and is very unbelievable. What it does have going for it, is that it has a good smattering of imagination. I rate it 1Q.

Digital Media by Michael Cieslak: A man is kidnapped and forced to play a game. He’s told he asked for what was happening to him, but he doesn’t understand or remember until close to the end…close to his end.

Well written and suspenseful, this story keeps you wondering what “all” is going on right up to the end. I give it 2Q.

Sisters by Chris Reed: Tony picks up a chick that ends up being the hungriest, freakiest ass he has ever had.

I didn’t think this was much of a “story,” but it was really out there and disturbing. I give it 1Q.

My Dark Lover by Stacy Bolli: A young girl turns to darkness after the loss of her mother. She rejects God. The “darkness” comes to her in a real for and becomes part of her, part of her life. Eventually, she helps him have children.

This story was dark and interesting, showing how innocence can breed a devotion that risks everything. I rate it 2Q.

A Laxative for Writer’s Block by Forrest Ingle: A writer can’t write and decides that raping and killing a child will make them a great writer.

I hate this story. If it was the author’s intention to offend those who read it, then they pulled off their goal with me. The combination of the content makes me sure I’ll never read anything by this author again. I think the story would have been less offensive if it had been kept in a metaphorical tone, instead of turning into more realism. Regardless, I don’t think it was worth the ink it was printed with and the book would have been better without it. I give it no rank – 0Q.

In the Make-Out Room by Matthew Keville: Two teens at a school dance decide they want to go somewhere more private. The alone time is their salvation during an attack. But sex turns to insanity by the time the rescue crew arrives.

Realistic and intriguing, this story gives you a refreshing view of life and innocence slammed up against a wall of fear and pain. I give it 3Q.

Sickened by Tonia Brown: Clement can’t figure out why he’s so violently ill, and neither can the doctors. After something his doctor says, Clement decides to leave the hospital and investigate. He finds the source of his illness and it’s more than what he expected.

I liked this story; it kept me guessing, but had logical progression. I rate it 3Q.

Glutton for Punishment by Robert Essig: A rich man contracts an STD from an expensive hooker and realizes that money can’t keep you safe. He no longer believes that money buys the best – everything is just over priced crap.

This story shows the swing of a person who believes they have life all figured out and realizes they might have been wrong all along, about everything. The realization breaks his sanity. I rate it 2Q.

Guys by Eric Dimbleby: When a man’s wife goes away, he has a group of guys over. What seems like innocent “male bonding” soon turns into something more…sinister.

This story isn’t what I expected at the beginning, but in a good way. I rate it 2Q.

Go To Your Room by Shane McKenzie: Three guys decide to rob an old man who has lived in the same place forever – they figure he’s loaded. They proceed despite some rumors of strange things they’ve heard related to the old man.

This is a really freaky story. It is creepy in a way a nightmare would be if you never woke up. I rate it 3Q.

NREM Sleep by A.R. Braun: A woman is having night terrors and tries to overcome them. She thinks she’s healed but is far from it. Her vivid horrors end up ruining her life.

Twisted and messed up in a lot of ways, this story is definitely original. I rate it 2Q.

Daddy by Uri Grey: A young girl’s parents die and she ends up as s sex slave to her uncle for life.

While I still got a fairly clear picture of what the author was trying to get across, it was through poor structure and confusing tenses. This story could have had a better impact if it was thought through better. I rate it 1Q.

Good Girls by R. Warren Smith: Twin girls manipulate people to kill them without them even knowing it. They are weapons used on the world, masked by their innocence.

The story was far too short and told too little of everything. You go from slaughter to a hint of something more and then it’s over. It wasn’t a full story. I rate it 1Q.

Saving Ralph by Alec Cizak: A boy with a slow mind becomes a start football player until he gets injured. He is cursed to live on the streets where he finds abandoned babies in dumpsters.

I was the ending coming and it was the best part “horror” wise of the entire story. Otherwise, it was a mess of POV spin. I rate it 1Q.